World Briefs

SEOUL – North Korea, facing international censure for this week's nuclear test, threatened on Wednesday to attack the South after it joined a US-led plan to check vessels suspected of carrying equipment for weapons of mass destruction.

Adding to tension in the region, South Korean media reported that Pyongyang had restarted a plant that makes plutonium that can be used in nuclear bombs.

In Moscow, news agencies quoted an official as saying that Russia is taking precautionary security measures because it fears mounting tensions over the test could escalate to war.

HONOLULU – With tourism in the dumps, Hawaii hotels are offering unprecedented discounts, freebies and other incentives in hopes of drawing tourists to the islands and survive the economic slump.

The wide range of perks include free nights, rental cars, upgraded rooms, 2-for-1 activities, daily breakfast, round of golf, free parking, spa treatments and discounted luau tickets. However, some are getting even more creative, offering everything from the use of $200,000 Bentley convertible to a Nintendo Wii.

MUMBAI, India – The makers of "Slumdog Millionaire" met the film's two impoverished child stars on Wednesday and reassured them they will soon have new homes. But the father of one of the children stormed out, saying the filmmakers have not done enough to help.

Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, both lost their homes this month after city authorities demolished parts of their slum in Mumbai.

DUBLIN – The Catholic orders responsible for abusing Ireland's poorest children say they're struggling to come up with money to help their victims. Yet investigations into their net worth paint a very different picture — that of nuns and brothers with billions' worth of carefully sheltered assets worldwide.

Irish government leaders said Wednesday they expect the 18 religious orders involved in abusing children in workhouse-style schools to pay a much greater share of compensation to 14,000 state-recognized victims.

CHICAGO – Roland Burris isn't hiding after a judge allowed the release of a transcript in which the senator offers to "personally do something" for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund.

He reiterated Wednesday that he never participated in a pay-to-play scheme for his appointment to the Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama.

"Did I try to buy the seat? Never," Burris told reporters Wednesday.